The Office of Elder
Part 4: Identifying Potential Elders
Andrew Rutten
The final question we must consider is directed to current elders. Whether that be a solo pastor in a church plant, or a fully structured team of elders, they must ask, “How do we assess potential elders?” Here are three categories to consider in the assessment process.
Character
First and foremost, an elder must have the character qualifications for the role. These qualifications should be considered primarily from 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9. However, on top of the obvious Biblical qualifications needed, a few other questions would be helpful to consider at this point. How is this man’s intimacy with God? What is his relationship like with his family? How do his wife and children describe him? How do the members of our church view this man? How do outsiders view him and relate to him?
All these questions are attempting to highlight that a man of high character should be a man whose relationships are marked by health. It is not to say that a broken relationship with a child or with a coworker is an automatic disqualification. However, those relationships, especially if they begin to pile up, are helpful points to ask questions about concerning character. Asking his children’s perception of him as a father and the ethos of their home growing up will reveal a lot about how he will lead the flock. Understanding whether his neighbors view him as a man of integrity and love will reveal if he can shepherd the church and be salt and light in the community.
Remember, the church will only be as healthy as her leaders. This also means that the church’s character most likely will not outgrow that of her leaders. If an elder team is comprised of men with low character, you can be sure that you will soon be in a church with low character. Conversely, a church with leaders marked by integrity and spiritual maturity will likely be characterized by the same qualities.
Calling
It has been stated that an elder must be called to this task (Acts 20:28). Therefore, assessing a potential elder will require a process to discern whether the Lord’s call rests on him. A few helpful questions in this process may include: Does he have a desire for this work? Does his spouse (if applicable) have a desire for him to do this work? Is he willing to make the time commitment necessary to shepherd the congregation?
These questions will be helpful in starting to consider the matter of calling. If the man does not desire the task and the work of the ministry or if his wife is unwilling or hesitant to encourage him in it, we may question whether God is calling him into this ministry. Not every man’s path to eldership is the same, but a sense of calling and commitment from him and his wife are a crucial step in this process.
Ultimately, it is for the church is to discern the will of Jesus concerning this man’s calling. Trust the process of prayer and faithfulness. Biblically, the pattern is that when Christians pray for discernment, the Lord often reveals what it is he is asking them to do. Therefore, be faithful to the work you can do and the questions you can ask, and in prayer faithfully seek biblical wisdom in the matter.
Compatibility
The final necessary component in the assessment process is compatibility. This means that the potential elder must fit well not only within the church and the role of an elder, but also on the existing eldership team. A few helpful questions in this category may be: Does this man live out the vision and values of our church?
How do his personality and gifting fit within the current eldership team? Does he theologically align with the leadership of the church?
Once again, these questions have a varying degree of importance. But adding a man to the elder team who is not compatible in some way with the team risks disunity and destruction. Asking hard questions about theological positions or philosophies of ministry early in the process will save division in the long run. Adding a man to eldership is to hand over to him a measure of the pastoral care and authority of God’s people. Making sure that he will continue to carry the vision forward and do so well within the team is a must for a unified, healthy body of elders.
Conclusion
As Jesus was restoring Peter after a monumental failure, he tenderly commissioned Peter to lead and feed his sheep. Three times Jesus called him to this end: to feed his lambs, tend his sheep, and feed those sheep (John 21:15–17). Jesus, in this moment, is beginning to entrust the ones he died for into the leadership hands of men. The responsibility of leading the church is not for the faint of heart, the power hungry, or the man looking for accolades. Leadership in the church is for the redeemed man called by his Lord to lay down his life for the people of God.
This role of leadership is what it means to be an elder in Christ’s church. It is an essential element to the health and vitality of Christ’s people. It is not to be taken lightly nor is it to be ignored. Christ has given his life to gather his sheep together into a flock and has handed his Shepherd’s staff to feeble men to shepherd them until his return. This is a great calling. This is an enormous undertaking. This is the work of an elder.